Abbott has received regulatory clearance in the United States and Japan for its TREK and MINI-TREK coronary dilatation catheters for the treatment of coronary artery disease. The catheters have received CE Mark almost a year ago. From the press release:
"Balloon dilatation catheters help physicians open up, or pre-dilate, a lesion before a stent is placed – a step which has been shown to improve patient outcomes when the stent is later expanded in the vessel1, " said David Rizik, M.D., medical director of invasive cardiology at Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center. "The TREK system was designed to help physicians treat a broad range of patients with tortuous anatomy, with the goal of addressing complex lesions in narrowed and difficult-to-dilate vessels."
"It can take multiple attempts to find the right catheter that is flexible enough to travel through twisting blood vessels and streamlined enough to push through calcified lesions, which can lead to prolonged procedure times," said Etsuo Tsuchikane, M.D., co-director of cardiovascular medicine at the Toyohashi Heart Center in Japan. "The TREK balloon is designed to allow physicians to more easily and accurately place the balloon, restore blood flow and quickly bring relief to the patient."
Press release: Abbott’s TREK Coronary Balloon System Now Available in the United States and Japan…
Flashback: Abbott TREK Coronary Balloon Catheter Rolling Out in Europe